Bexar County Sheriff's Office Policy Manual PDF

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Original Date Effective Date Chapter Number January 4, 2024 January 4, 2024 Seven Appendix A Subject Office Awards, Decorations and De...

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Original Date Effective Date Chapter Number January 4, 2024 January 4, 2024 Seven Appendix A Subject Office Awards, Decorations and Devices Sheriff’s Administration References Enclosures None List of Awards Distribution Supersedes Reevaluation Date Pages All Sheriff’s Employees New Appendix January 4, 2026 7 Approved by: Javier Salazar, Bexar County Sheriff 7A.01 POLICY The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) recognizes both sworn and non-sworn employees who perform extraordinary acts of courage, heroism or who distinguish themselves by providing outstanding service to the BCSO and/or the citizens of Bexar County. All employees can be recognized for exceptional, heroic, and outstanding acts of service to the BCSO and the Community. Employees are also authorized to wear certain uniform decorations and/or devices that recognize longevity, achievement, educational self-improvement, as well as membership in certain specialty units. 7A.02 PURPOSE This policy provides guidelines for the awarding and wearing of BCSO awards and outlines other authorized uniform decorations. 7A.03 CATEGORIES OF AWARDS A. Awards of Honor: 1. Medal of Honor: This award is the highest award presented by the BCSO. It is awarded to deputies and detention officers who distinguish themselves by displaying great courage in the face of immediate life-threatening peril to themselves with full knowledge of the risks involved. 2. Medal of Valor: This award is presented to d eputies and detention o fficers for heroic deeds and exceptional conduct involving significant risk to their personal safety during the performance of their duty. 3. Life Saving Award: This award is presented to d eputies and detention o fficers who are directly responsible for saving a human life. a. Where the victim is in immediate danger of succumbing to an injury or illness unless some immediate action is taken; and b. The victim must sustain life for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours after the event. If there are special circumstances that resulted in the death of the individual subsequent to the 1  deputy or detention officer’s lifesaving efforts, then the Sheriff, or appointed committee will evaluate the circumstances and determine the eligibility of the deputy or detention officer to receive the award. 4. Purple Heart: This award is presented to deputies and detention officers who are either killed or suffer bodily injury while encountering a hostile person(s) or situation during the performance of their duty. B. Awards for Service: 1. Meritorious Service Award: This award is presented to d eputies and detention o fficers who distinguish themselves by their exemplary actions at a particular incident. Examples of these types of actions include judgment, courage, teamwork, investigative skills, management skills and immediate recognition and response to a law enforcement or jail activity. 2. Meritorious Conduct Award: This award is presented to deputies and detention officers who distinguish themselves by their exemplary conduct through a specific action or a continued course of actions. Examples of these types of actions involve use of judgement, teamwork, and management skills in a manner that benefits the BCSO and/or the citizens of Bexar County through continued involvement in the community. 3. Distinguished Service Award: This award is presented to sworn or non-sworn employees who distinguish themselves for exemplary service to the BCSO. 4. Rising Star Award: This award is presented to deputies or detention officers who exhibit exceptional contributions to the profession and demonstrate extraordinary leadership qualities. One whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth, with a strong career trajectory, and the likelihood of forward advancement to the highest level of the profession. This award will be presented twice a year; one (1) award to a deputy assigned to the Law Enforcement Bureau and one (1) award to a deputy or detention officer assigned to the Detention Bureau. Nominations from the previous six (6) months will be reviewed and the recipients will be selected by the Awards Evaluation Committee. 5. Unit Excellence Award: This award is presented to a unit or division that has distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement. The unit must be submitted for the award to the Awards Recognition Committee, and it must identify the members of the unit. Only members assigned to the unit at the time it is awarded are authorized to wear the ribbon. 6. Community Service Award: This award is presented to sworn or non-sworn employees who distinguish themselves for volunteer work in the community. 7. Citizens Meritorious Service Award: This award is presented to a citizen who distinguishes themselves by their exemplary actions at a particular incident involving significant risk or harm. 2 C. Awards of Achievement: 1. Good Conduct Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers who perform their duties and responsibilities in an effective manner for a period of five (5) consecutive years without having received any punitive disciplinary action(s). Punitive disciplinary action(s) include final administrative actions which result in reduction in rank, suspension of pay, disciplinary probation periods and written reprimands. 2. Patrol Service Award: This is worn by deputies who have successfully completed the Law Enforcement Patrol Orientation Course and Patrol Training Officer Program. 3. Safe Driving Award: This is worn by deputies assigned to the Law Enforcement Bureau who utilize a county vehicle for daily operations, upon completing five (5) consecutive years of service without a chargeable county vehicle crash. 4. Instructor Certification Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers upon receiving a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Instructor Certification. 5. Master Peace Officer/Master Jailer Certification Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers upon receiving a Master Peace Officer Certification and/or a Master Jailer Certification from TCOLE. Only the highest award will be worn at any given time. 6. Advanced Peace Officer/Advanced Jailer Certification Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers upon receiving an Advanced Peace Officer Certification and/or an Advanced Jailer Certification from TCOLE. Only the highest award will be worn at any given time. 7. Intermediate Peace Officer/Intermediate Jailer Certification Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers upon receiving an Intermediate Peace Officer and/or Intermediate Jailer Certification from TCOLE. Only the highest award will be worn at any given time. 8. Military Service Award: This is worn by deputies and detention officers who have served in the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marines or Space Force and who have been honorably discharged. A copy of the deputy or detention officer’s DD214 (member 4 copy) must be in their BCSO personnel file before an award is purchased and worn. 7A.04 AWARDS NOMINATION PROCESS A. Request for Nomination: 1. Any person who witnesses or otherwise has knowledge of an exemplary act by an employee may initiate a request for recognition by submitting BCSO Form #350-475, Award Nomination Form, to the Sheriff’s Administration. 2. Division, Section, and Unit Commanders may nominate employees under their command for the various awards for service by submitting BCSO Form #350-475, Award Nomination Form, to the Sheriff’s Administration. 3. Award Nomination Forms received by Sheriff’s Administration shall be provided to an Awards Evaluation Committee. The Awards Evaluation Committee shall review nominations to ensure the 3  actions taken by the nominated employee meet the criteria established for the recommended award. 4. Awards o f achievement do not require formal nomination and evaluation; however, evidence that a deputy or detention officer has met the requirements to wear the award must be in the employee’s BCSO personnel file before an award is purchased and worn. 7A.05 AWARDS EVALUATION COMMITTEE A. The Awards Evaluation Committee is appointed by the Sheriff and will be comprised of five (5) members. It is charged with the responsibility of rendering recommendations for the various awards for the nominated employees. B. The Awards Evaluation Committee; through a majority decision, shall recommend: 1. The award be approved; 2. An alternate award be approved; or 3. The nomination for an award is disapproved. C. The Awards Evaluation Committee shall forward all recommendations, whether approved or disapproved, to the Office of the Sheriff for review. D. The Awards Evaluation Committee shall meet on a quarterly basis. 7A.06 AWARDS NOTIFICATION AND PRESENTATION A. The Awards Evaluation Committee shall notify each nominated employee, in writing, of the recommendation made by the committee. B. All nominations for awards, whether approved or disapproved, are to be placed in the nominated employee’s personnel file. C. Approved Awards of Honor are to be presented by the Sheriff or his designated representative at a formal ceremony. D. Approved Awards for Service or Awards of Achievement may be presented to the employee by the Division Commander or designated representative. 7A.07 AWARD VERIFICATION PROCESS All awards will be taken to the BCSO Human Resources Office and have the award citation recorded in the deputy or detention officer’s BCSO personnel file. The date the award was given will be recorded and a copy of the citation will be placed in the deputy or detention officer’s BCSO personnel file. This process is for verification and record keeping purposes. 4 7A.08 DECORATIONS The following accoutrements are authorized to be worn as indicated: A. Service Pins and Certification Awards: The following pins and bars are authorized for wear above the authorized nameplate. Embroidered versions of pins may be worn with the class “B” uniform. All pins or bars must conform to the BCSO’s specifications with respect to size, shape, color, and configuration unless stated otherwise below. 1. Bexar County Longevity Service Awards - Full color Bexar County Coat of Arms service pins awarded for each five (5) years of service to Bexar County may be worn by sworn personnel. Only the most recently awarded service pin may be worn. 2. Bicycle Patrol - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by deputies assigned to bicycle patrol duties, who have met minimum training requirements. 3. Crime Prevention - Pins or bars will only be worn by deputies who are assigned to duties as crime prevention officers and who have met minimal training and/or certification standards. Pins must meet acceptable standards established by the Texas Crime Prevention Association. 4. Crisis Negotiation Team (C.N.T) - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the Crisis Negotiation Team who have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit Commander. 5. Drone Unit - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the drone unit, who have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit Commander. 6. Graduate Management Institute (GMI) - Pins or bars will be worn only by employees who have successfully completed the Graduate Management Institute Program of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT). Pins or bars must meet requirements established by LEMIT. 7. Honor Guard - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the BCSO Honor Guard. 8. Marine Unit - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the marine unit as well as dive team members, who have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit Commander. 9. Medical Emergency Deputy - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the medical emergency deputy program, who have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit Commander. 10. Mounted Patrol - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the mounted patrol unit, who have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit Commander. 11. Patrol Training Officer/Detention Training Officer (PTO/DTO) - PTO/DTO pins or epaulet sleeves may be worn by active PTOs and DTOs who have met minimum training requirements. Pins or 5  epaulet sleeves must conform to the BCSO specifications with respect to size, shape, configuration, and color. Current specifications will be maintained by the BCSO Training Academy. 12. Peer Support - BCSO approved bars will be worn only by active members of the peer support team, who have met the minimum training requirements as established by the Peer Support Coordinator. 13. Recruiting and Applicant Processing Unit - BCSO approved bars will be worn only by currently assigned members of the recruiting and applicant processing unit, who have met the minimum requirements as established by the unit Commander. 14. Special Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.) - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the S.E.R.T., who have met minimum training requirements as established by the S.E.R.T. unit Commander. 15. Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.) - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by active members of the S.W.A.T., who have met minimum training requirements as established by the S.W.A.T. unit Commander. 16. Tactical Medic Deputy - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by deputies, who are medical emergency deputies assigned to S.W.A.T., and have met minimum training requirements as established by the unit commander. 17. Telecommunications - BCSO approved pins may be worn by employees assigned to the Public Safety Communications Center (PSCC) and who have met minimum TCOLE licensing standards. 18. Traffic Safety Unit - BCSO approved pins will only be worn by deputies currently assigned to the Traffic Safety Unit, this includes the motor deputy insignia and DRE (drug recognition expert) certified Traffic Safety deputies. 19. Sheriff’s Reserve Longevity Service Bar - Bars will be worn only by members of the Sheriff’s Reserve Organization denoting their years of service to the BCSO as a reserve deputy as authorized by the Sheriff’s Reserve Organization Commander. The service bars shall be in increments of five (5) years and in a style approved by the Sheriff or his designee. Note: Only one (1) pin may be worn at a time and pins will be gold for Sergeants and above all others will be silver. B. Service Bars and Stars - May be worn as an optional item on the center of the lower part of left sleeve of uniform long sleeve shirts and jackets, except for windbreakers. These longevity awards will be gold or silver colored thread embroidered on black fabric. Service stars and bars may be worn in combination with each other. 1. Service Stars: Each star denotes five (5) years of service with the BCSO, other law enforcement agency, or combination of service time between the two. 2. Service Bars: Each bar denotes two (2) years of service with the BCSO, other law enforcement agency, or combination of service time between the two. 6  3. Proof of law enforcement service from other agencies must be provided to the BCSO Human Resources Office indicating the years of service from each agency and will be placed into the employee’s BCSO personnel file. A record of service time issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement will also suffice as proof of service time. C. Ceremonial Items: Honor Guard, Color Guard, Buglers, Pall Bearers and other deputies participating in formal ceremonies will be authorized to wear additional ceremonial items such as ascots, fourragères, and white gloves, as appropriate. Note: Service stars and bars will be gold for Sergeants and above all others will be silver. 7A.09 DISPLAY OF AWARDS Deputies and detention officers who have received the Medal of Honor may display the medal portion of the award with the regulation uniform during speaking engagements, organizational special events and ceremonies, or as authorized by the Sheriff. A. Deputies and detention officers who have received Awards of Honor, Awards for Service, and Awards o f Achievement may wear the commendation bar portion on the regulation class “A” uniform. The commendation bar will be worn on the regulation class “A” uniform shirt or dress coat above the name tag. When more than one (1) bar is worn, they will be worn in rows of three (3) with the highest category of award always being worn on the left. 1. The medal (if any) and commendation bar portion of all Awards for Service and Achievement may be purchased by the employee eligible to wear the Awards at the employee’s expense. 2. The specifications for the commendation bar portion of all awards are as follows: size: 1 ¼ inches wide by 3/9 inch high and composed of clear plastic laminated designed on a brass backing. Note: Section 7A.03, Categories of Awards, lists the awards in the order in which they are to be worn beginning with the highest category of award. 7